Hinged key-slip for pianos and organs.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

E. PETERSEN. 'HINGED KEY SLIP FOR PIANOS AND ORGANS.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 13.1905.

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HINGED KEY-SLIP FOR PIANOS AND ORGANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1905. Serial No. 255,382.

T0 00 whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK PETERSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hinged Key-Slips for Pianos and Organs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hinged key-slips for pianos and organs; and the object thereof is to hinge the slip with the piano or organ body so that when said slip is in an upright position the hinges thereof will be invisible and when lowered to allow the positioning of a mechanical playing device with respect to the instrument, as well as allowing an operator to have access to certain parts of the instrument, said slip when lowered extending in a lateral direction, as well as being retained in such position, thereby acting as a support.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of a part of a musical instrument, showing the key-slip in its lowered position. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the key-slip in its upright position; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, with the key-slip in its upright position.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes the sides of the instrument; 2, the key-blocks; 3, the front keyframe, aud t the key-bottom, having attached to its front a face-bar 5, which projects below the same. The elements just referred to are of known construction.

The reference character 6 denotes the keyslip, which normally is in an upright position and rests upon the top of the face-bar 5, and when the key-slip is in its lowered position it bears against the outer surface of the bar 5. Said bar 5 acts as an abutment for the key-slip 6, so that when the key-slip 6 is lowered it will be retained ina laterally-extending position. The lower face of the key-slip 6 is pro- Vided with a covering of any suitable material, as indicated by the reference character 7, so that when the key-slip 6 is lowered it will not injure the front surface of the bar 5. Secured to each end of thekey-slip 6 at each in nor lower.corner thereof is a hinge 8. These hinges 8 are also secured to a pair of reciprocatory slides 9, which operate in channels 10, formed in the key-blocks 2. The slides 9 are actuated through the medium of the shifting bars 11,whicl1 are arranged to extend upwardly through the key-blocks 2, suitable elongated slots 12 being provided for such purpose. The shifting-bars 11 at their lower ends are secured to the slides 9 and at their upper ends are provided with a knob or other enlargement 13, so that the operator can readily shift the bars 11 and reciprocate the slides 9. The slides 9 are of such length that whenmoved forwardly to lower the key-slip 6 they project to a point slightly past the forward edge of the door 5, so that there will be no impediment offered to the lowering of the keyslip 6. Therefore it will be evident that by moving the shifting bar or bars 11 forwardly the key-slip 6 will be lowered, and when the said bar or bars are moved rearwardly the keyslip will be returned to an upright position.

In some instances it has been found advantageous to provide a latch for retaining the key-slip 6 in an upright position and also to prevent the warping of said key-slip, and the latch is arranged approximately centrally of the bar 5 and is indicated by the reference character 14, the spring-latch being operated by a suitable finger-piece 15, arranged at the rear of the bar 5. The latch 1 L not only assists in retaining the key-slip in an upright position, but, as before stated, it prevents the warping of said key-slip 6, and if the key-slip should be slightly warped the latch 14 will hold the key-slip 6 in its proper position, thereby overcoming the slight warp. A bolt-receiving opening 16 is provided in the lower face of the key-slip 6 to receive the bolt of the latch.

It will be evident that from the connecting of the key-slip 6 to the slides 9 in a manner as referred to that when the key-slip 6 is in an upright position the hinges thereof will 'be invisible and that owing to the providing of the covering for the lower face of the keyslip 6 when the key-slip 6 is lowered it will not injure the front of the instrument in any manner, and, furthermore, when the key-slip is in a lowered position it acts as a support for the operator, as said key-slip 6 when lowered will extend in a lateral direction and be retained in such position, owing to the bar 5 acting as an abutment and the connecting of the slip 6 to the slides 9 in the manner as referred to.

Each of the key-blocks 2 for the purpose of ornamentation may be provided with a slotted escutcheon-plate l7, suitably secured with its respective block 2, and the said plates are interposed between the blocks 2 and the knobs 13.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The combination with akey-slip, of a pair of reciprocatory slides hinged at their forward ends to the key-slip.

2. The combination with a key-slip, of a pair of reciprocatory slides hinged at their forward end to the key-slip, and means for reciprocating the slides.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination with a pair of key-blocks, a key-slip arranged forwardly thereof, a key-bottom, reciprocatory slides interposed between the key-blocks and the key-bottom, hinges carried on the forward end of said slides and secured to said key-slip, and means extending through the key-blocks for shifting said slip.

4. In amusical instrument, the combination with a pair of key-blocks, a key-slip arranged forwardly thereof, a key-bottom, reciprocatory slides interposed between the key-blocks and the key-bottom, hinges carried on the forward end of said slides and secured to said key-slip, means extending through the keyblocks for shifting said slip, a protective covering secured to the lower face of the key-slip,

and a facebar secured to the front of said heybottom and acting as an abutment for said key-slip when the same is lowered.

5. The coi'nbination with a key-sli p, of a pair of reciprocatory slides hinged at their forward ends to the key-slip, and a latch engaging the said key-slip for retaining it in an upright position.

6. The combination with a key-slip, of a pair of reciproeatory slides hinged at their forward end to the key-slip, means for reciprocating the slides, and a latch engaging said key-slip for retaining it in an upright position.

7. In a musical instrument, the combination with the key-slip and the key-blocks, of a slidable hinged connection between the key-blocks and the key-slip.

8. In a musical instrument, a pair of reciprocatory slides, a key-slip, and hinges carried on the forward end of said slides and connected to the lower inner corners of said key-slip.

9. In a musical instrument, a pair of reciprocatory slides, a key-slip, hinges carried on the forward end of said slides and connected to the lower inner corners of said key-slip, and means for reciprocating the slides.

10. In a musical instrument, a pairof slides, and a key-slip hinged to the forward end of said slides and adapted to be suspended therefrom when the slides are moved in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK PETERSEN.

Witnesses:

HARRY M. RAMEY, GEORGE M. DIE'DEMAN. 

